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Deep Foundation Stabilization at Gerald R. Ford International Airport: Kent Foundation Solutions Delivers for ConRAC Facility

At Kent Foundation Solutions, our work might be underground, but its impact is undeniable.

For more than a year, our team has been on-site at the new Consolidated Rental Car (ConRAC) Facility at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, partnering with Turner Construction to bring this major commercial infrastructure project to life. Since the planning phase in Spring 2022, Kent Foundation Solutions has played a critical role in foundation stabilization and deep foundation installation for this transformative facility.

One of our most essential scopes was preparing the foundation support system for the future Skybridge—a high-traffic pedestrian connection that links the rental car facility directly to the airport terminal. To ensure long-term structural reliability, our crew installed 64 helical piers, each drilled 21 feet deep to reach load-bearing soils. These deep foundation solutions provide the strength and stability needed to support the Skybridge safely and effectively.

When we encountered a decommissioned water line during installation, our team collaborated with Turner to quickly redesign the pier layout—navigating the obstacle without delaying the construction schedule. Later, when poor soil conditions were identified along another section of the Skybridge, Kent Foundation Solutions returned to the site and installed an additional 56 helical piers to meet evolving site demands.

“Our team installed over 120 helical piers, adjusting depth and torque in real time to achieve the required load-bearing capacity,” shares Division Manager Mike Gnewkowski. “This is the kind of problem-solving and precise geotechnical work that protects structural integrity of high-performance commercial facilities for decades."

The completed ConRAC facility will centralize all rental car services, add two parking garages, and include a quick-turnaround building, improving both operational efficiency and environmental impact. 

This project is a standout example of Kent’s expertise in commercial foundation stabilization and problem-solving under pressure. Explore how Kent Foundation Solutions tackles complex soil challenges with precision-engineered deep foundation systems here

Kent Nov23 Hastings 20

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